Perseverance

April 2012

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per·se·ver·ance
noun ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s
Definition of PERSEVERANCE
: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness

Perseverance means to continue steadfastly, especially in something that is difficult or tedious. It requires regular practice to develop the characteristics of perseverance. Only a patient person with strong determination can achieve his goal by perseverance.

When a child learns to stand up and tries to walk, he falls down again and again. By nature and instinct he gets up, and again tries to step forward, although again he falls down. Ultimately, he succeeds in walking. The same thing once happened with each one of us when we were children.

We each have our own stories of perseverance; how we’ve fought against defeat and found the strength to continue following our personal development plans to achieve our goals.

Recently I began having problems with the ignition/smart key for my new vehicle. I phoned the dealership and spoke with different technicians on several occasions. At the conclusion of each call it was suggested that I tow the vehicle in for repairs. I was determined that I should not have to tow the vehicle in, and that the issue could be resolved over the phone. I persevered and continued with the phone calls. Sitting in my vehicle I once again phoned the dealership and was connected with yet another technician. While discussing the problem at hand, many questions were asked by both parties to have a clear understanding of the problem. Through continued dialogue and my persistence, the problem was finally identified and corrected without having the vehicle towed.

Perseverance is vital to the secrets of success. Without it, no great achievement is possible. Even if a person is not very talented or highly knowledgeable, he can still succeed in life simply by his perseverance. Every action has its reaction, so hard labor has no alternative. It must yield results.

At an early age I began welding metal sculptures and selling them in various art shows throughout southern Louisiana. Over the years I followed my passion for welding by studying industrial technology. While in school I accepted contract welding jobs that I completed in the back of my truck. Over 34 years my one-man welding shop has evolved into a multi-million dollar precision sheet-metal operation with 49 employees, BEGNEAUD Manufacturing. The success of the business was obtained by having a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve, my passion, beliefs, innovative strategies, vitality, enthusiasm and perseverance.

I continued daily to push forward and was persistent in the face of adversity. I continued to strive relentlessly in pursuit of my goals. I continue to practice these values in the ever-changing world of technology and business environments to grow the business further. Throughout the journey of building my business, I have experienced many obstacles, challenges and hardships such as economic collapses, technology advancements, innovative efforts, streamlining processes, increasing equipment utilization, reducing costs and optimizing our performance. I remained steadfast in my strength, courage and especially perseverance in my course of action. The results I have received are endless.

Perseverance is a very important and positive character trait in someone’s life. It means having a steady persistence in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. A successful person is not afraid to do his best in the small jobs. If all the little jobs are done well, the big ones seem much easier to accomplish. You can’t go through life quitting everything. If you’re going to achieve anything, you’ve got to stick with it. Failure happens only when you quit and stop trying to reach your goals and purposes in life. A person must always have faith and hope in himself.

Perseverance is reached when a person is independent and takes responsibility. Being optimistic and having self-confidence help to reach your goals. Have patience with all things, but most importantly have patience with yourself. Don’t lose courage with the negatives, but think about improving them. Think about what you can do, not what you can’t do. It also helps to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. You have to find a way to accomplish a goal. You have to wake up with determination if you want to go to sleep with satisfaction. When you start a task, it’s always too soon to quit. Every little step gets you closer to fulfilling your dreams.

A person should also have a good role model who can have a huge affect on someone’s life in a positive way. A good role model will possess good characteristics, like always striving for excellence and success. Success arrives for every person who perseveres and follows his dreams.

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